Method of and mechanism for knitting sutured fabric



April 28 152.31. w. F. RoLsToN METHOD OF AD MECHANISM FOR KNITTING SUTURED FABRIC Filed Nov. l1, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l April 28, 1931. w- F ROLSTON {1502,394

METHOD 0F AND MECHANISM FOR KNITTING SU'I'UREU FABRIC v Filed Nov. 11, 1926 5 SheetsSheet 2 w F. RoLsToN 1,802,394

METHOD 0F AND MECHANISM FOR KNITTING SUTURED FABRIC April 28, 1931.

Filed Nov. 11, 192e 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4April 28,1931; w. F. RoLs'roN METHOD OF AND MECHANISM FOR KNITTING SUTURED FABRIC Filed Nov. l1. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 .W171i y CMMQHH www www www!! www@ im Filed NOV. 1l 1926 ee s immuni Ummm mim@ CMQM mmmmmu MMWWL m Mmm UHUQMHHHL iff-Zyl Z HHHD jUWHHHHHL JNWHWUUL BY Wr# Patented Apr. `28, 1931 SITES PATENT GFCE vTAI-KEER F. ROLSTON, 0F ROCLKFORD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT .AND MESNEv AS- SIGNMELI T S, LINOIS, CGREGRL'EIGN F ILLINGIS 0F GEIE-EMF TQ BUPLSGII KNITTING COMPANY, ROCKFORD, IL-

IVIETOD 0F f5- ND MECH. NISIY'I FOR KNITTING SU'IURED FABRIC Application :les November 11, 1926. Serial No. lflf/S.

This invention relates to straight knitting` machines and has particular reference to a method of and mechanism for controlling certain needles as, for example, when knitting a suture. My invention is not confined to this but is applicable to'control of certain needles for producing special stitches, or

patterns, or other effects, as well as suture knitting.

In the present application I have, however, shown an embodiment of my invention particularly designed for knitting a suture such as claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 147,674 filed Nov. 11, 1926, Patent No. 1,781,933.

My present invention contemplates, therefore, the provision of novel needle control mechanism adapted for knitting of the character required for a suture or for any special purpose.

I have also aimed to provide needle control mechanism adapted to operate independently of the use of any main pattern mechanism such, for example, as the pattern cylinder of a straight knitting machine. In the preferred embodiment this mechanism includes a slide bar adapted to be reciprocated by any of the reciprocating parts, in this instance, by the cam bar slide. In this regard Ihave also aimed to so combine the supplemental needle control mechanism lwith the pattern mechanism that each may be operated independently of the other.

My invention in its specific application, comprehends the provision Vof improved suture forming mechanism the construction and operation of which is described hereinafter.l

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is avertical transverse section through a straight parallel row knitting machine embodying my invention,

Fig. 2, is a fragmentary top view, enlarged, of the front bed and pattern eyllls der showing mainly in detail the parts employed in the present invention;

Fig. 3, is a view taken substantially on the line 8--3 of Fig. 2 showing the new slide bar, hereinafter described, at one end of its stroke;` y

Fig. 4, is a similar view showing the slide bar moved to the opposite end;

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary view of the parts shown at the left hand vend of Fig. "3 actuated to render the slide parts inactive;

Fig. 6 is i fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line'6-6 of Fig. 2 showing the parts for effecting the movement shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7, is a diagrammatic face view showing one example of a fabric knit with this mechanism Fig 8, is a diagrammatic view of the needle beds illustrating the action of the suture needles controlled by this mechanism;

Fig. 9, is a view of a stocking illustrating the location of the suture; and n Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the different needle operations, in sequence, as controlled by this mecha ism.

`In the present case I have, for purpose of illustration merely, shown my improvements as applied to a straight parallel row knitting machine having opposed beds of needles and, more particularly, to one forming the subject matter of my (3o-pending application, Serial No. 76,142, led Decem-l ber 18, 1925, and to divisional application, Serial No. 147,675, tiled Nov. 11, 1926, which relate to the bed structure and the needle operating mechanism.` It should be expressly understood, however, that my present improvements are in no way confined to use with the inventions disclosed and claimed in said applications, and that these parts and devices disclosed herein, not directly claimed or essential to the present invention, are intended merely for purpose of clarity in illustrating the present improvements.

The particular construction and needle operating mechanism shown in Fig.v 1 will be briefly described, The bed plates 18 and 19 carry opposed beds of needles in the angular relation shown defining a throat 2l where the knitting takes place. On each bed plate is carried a series of division plates 22 between which are mounted needle supports 23, needles 24, needle jacks 25, Jack housings 26, and pattern levers 2r.

The needles are held down on their supports by filler springs 28 which in turn are retained in position by a sinker bed 29. The sinkers or web holders 3 are of the usual construction retained in position by a sinker cap 32. The sinker cam bar and the needle cam bar slide 34 are adapted to be reciprocated for advancing and retracting the sinkers and needles. rlhe pattern levers 27 are adapted to be actuated by pattern cylinders for raising and lowering the jack lugs 36 into and ont of the path of cams 37 on the underside of the cam slide bars, thereby putting the needles into and out of action as explained more fully in my application, Serial No. 76,142. A yarn carrier designated generally b y 38, having a yarn distributor 39, is mounted to reciprocate on a rail 41 as claimed in my application, Serial N o. 82,388, Patent No. 1,7 67,480, filed January 20, 1926. The division plates 22 above referred to are held down in position by spacing bars 42 and 43 which, together with the bed plates 18 and 19 and sinker beds 29 are suitably7 secured to a bed-supporting frame the ends of which are indicated by 44 and 45. From the foregoing it will be understood that the jack levers 27 will be rocked on their pivots 46 by the pattern plates on the pattern cylinders, which are operated in step-by-step movements as is well understood in this art, the purpose of these operations being to control the number of needles in action whereby to vary either the pattern or shape, or both, of the knitting.

My present invention contemplates the provision of needle control mechanism supplemental to the main pattern mechanism and adapted to be operated ii'idependently thereof, although, in this instance, controlled thereby, for controlling special knitting such, for example, as the knitting of a suture, or for other effects as above mentioned. The suture to be knit in this case is indicated by the line between the points 47 and 48, Fig. 9, this suture occurring at both sides of the split sole stocking and serving to connect the fabric of the instep 49, which is usually a lighter yarn, as silk, and the fabric o'lz the sole 5l and the high splice 52, usually of a. heavier and more durable yarn. For purpose of clarity l will refer hereinafter to the heavy as the first yarn, and the lighter as the seeond. The knitting of these sutures is done by suture needles 53 and 54, Fig. 8, which are located at an intermediate point in the front bed 55, and by similar suture needles 56 and 57 in the rear bed 58. The right hand end of these beds is known as the transfer or home end of the machine at which the yarn changes are made. These beds are further identilied in practice, for convenience in following the courses of knitting, by the letters A-B applied to the front bed 55, and C--D to the rear bed 58, as shown. Referring to Fig. 7, it will be noted that the letters A-B, and C-D are applied to show the fabrics or webs knit on the front and rear beds, respectively, it being well known that these webs are joined at B-C and A-D (although this figure omits many wales between these points). In round-andround knitting a complete course is knit in the order A-B-C-D, as shown by the lowermost course 59, this being the last course of the toe, as noted in Fig. 9. In knitting the split sole, in this particular example, the order of knitting is, approximately, starting with the first yarn, from A forward on the front bed to the suture needles, back on the same bed to A and then across to D, forward on the rear bed to the suture needles, back on the same bed to D, and then a change of yarn. The second yarn will be introduced at the suture needles on the front bed and knit forward to B, and then across to C and back on the rear bed to the suture needles, then forward to C and across to B, and back on the 'front bed to the suture needles where the yarn will be changed, the first yarn being again brought into action and the operations repeated. Whether the operation starts with the first 0r second yarn is immaterial; and it is likewise immaterial as to the point of starting the operations. The sequence of the knitting operations and the operation of the suture needles 53, 54, 56 and 57, in which said needles are operated in alternation, will be described more fully hereinafter when considering the knitting of the particular fabric shown in Fig. 7 by means of the control mechanism which will new be described.

Separate mechanism embodying my invention is applied to cach bed and, inasmuch as the construction of each such mechanism is identical, a detail description of one will sufiice, the same reference numerals being applied to similar parts of both. This mechanism, shown in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive is designed to control the suture needles 53 and 54 to knit one of the sutures above referred to, although these needles and others might be operated, as already mentioned, to produce other effects. As shown in Fig. l the section at the right hand side, that is, through the front bed, corresponds to one taken through the suture needle :'34, in Fig. 8, and the parts shown therein are for operating this suture needle. To the pattern lever 27 for this suture needle is p'i-votally connected by 'means of the sectional ball and socketr connection 6l, a l-ink 62v disposed between the two adjoining division plates 22 and bearing against the rod 63 which passes through the division plates.

A shorter link (not shown) of the same construction is connected to the pattern lever for the suture needle 53. A short link of this kind is, however, shown as part of the mechanism for the rear bed, this link 64; being connected to the jack lever for the suture needle rFliese links 62 and 6i for the suture needles 53 and 54: are adapted to be each shifted lengthwise for rocking its respective pattern lever in an action similar to that imparted by the pattern plates Jfor raising and lowering their jacks and consequently puttingy their respective needles into and out of action. The links are operated.v from a slide bar 65 suitably mounted to reciprocate on the bed structure, the same having, in this instance, a bearing against the front wall of the stationaryT bar Li3 and being retained for reciprocation in this position by suitable' means such as will be presently described. The slide bar 65 may be reciprocated in timed relation with the reciprocating parts of the machine; in the present instance, by means of a link or lever 68 pivotally connected by the pivot screw 69l to the slide'bar and having a lat erally turned end 7l overreaching the cam slide bar 34, as shown in Fig. 2, and adapted L to be actuated by either of the abutments 72 and 73 fixed thereon. In this instance, the lever 68, which travels with the slide bar 65, is engaged at its front side by a bracket 66 lixed to the frame part lli, which serves to give lateral support to the adjacent end of said slide bar and to retain it in position. The end 7l of the lever l68 is normally held down in the path` of the abutments 72 and 73, as shown in Figs. 3 and l, by a suitable spring 74C, which in this instance, is attached to the head of the pivot pin 69, so that in this position said end 7l will be actuated by the butments 72 and 73v to move' the slide bar'65 back and forth with the cam bar but in a much shorter movement by reason of the spacing cic said abutments and the lost motion occasioned thereby. This back and forth movement of the slide baris utilized to operate means for operating the links 62 and 6flto control the suture needles 53 and 54. This is accomplished in the present instance by a pair of levers 75 and 76 coaxially pivoted intermediate their ends as on a common screw pivot 77 which passes through a slot 7 6 in the slide bar 65 and is iixed in tl e stationary bar 4.3, the slot 7 3 providing clearance for the screw 77 allowing the bar to be reciprocated. The lever 7 5 has a lug 79 disposed between lugs y81 ou lthe upper end o the link 62 for operating the latter, and the lever 76 has a similar lug 62 disposed between. similar lugs 33 on the link 6l for the same' purpose.y Flach lever 75 and 76 also has at opposite sides ci its pivot outstanding lugs or abutments Sfl and 65 adapted to be actuated by a cam element '86 carried by an offset extension 87 -from a bracket 67 lined to the slide bar The cam elements 86ers arranged in opposed relation in the path of the `abutments Vor suitable striking surfaces on the levers 75 and 76 so as to move the companion abutments at either end into closed relation. As shown inFig. 3 the Yslide bar 65 has been moved by the abutmentl 7 2v on the cam slide bar 3l to the extreme right .hand position., and the cam elements 66 have passed over the abutments Sil and swung the levers 75 and 76 to the position shown in full lines, thus moving the link 62 to its uppermost position, bringing its jack into active posi.- tionV for operation by the needle cams, and moving the link 6a to its lowermost position to put its jack out of action. When the cam bar moves forward on the next stroke its abutment 73 will strike the arm 7l' and move the slide bar 65 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thereby carrying the cam elements S6 into contact with the abutments 85 and moving the levers 75 and 76 to the closed position, thus reversing the positions of the links 62 and 64C and likewise of their jacks.

.lt will thus be seen that upon each stroke of thek slide bar 65 the jack 'lor onesuture needle will be thrown into active position for operation by its advancing and retracting cam and the other will be thrown out of action, and that upon the next succeeding stroke in the opposite direction the position of these acks will be reversed. lt follows that by means of this mechanism the suture needles will be controlled and put into and out of action so that each needle will knit in alternation with the other. ln this instance, the levers 75 and 76, together with theirpivot screw 77, serve to retain the adjacent end oi thc slide bar 65 in position.

Before entering into a description of the suture knit by this mechanism I will describe the means forv rendering the mechanism inoperative or ineffective for controlling the suture needles so `that these needles will be permitted to have a neutral condition and may be operated' directly by the pattern mechanism along with any orn the companion needles in the bed. This is attained by raising the' lever 68 to the'position shown in Fig. 5, in which its end 71 will clear the abutment 73 but will still be in the path of the higher abutment 72, which will move the slide bar to the' eXtreme right hand position where it will remain at rest with the levers 7.5 and 76 free to move and their pattern levers freeV to bey actuated by the pattern plates. The lever 68 is raised to this position at a predetermined time in the operation as controlled by suit-able pattern plates on the pattern cylinder arranged to operate a pattern lever S8, which acts against a lever S9, Figs. 5 and 6, pivoted at 91. The lever 89 has an end 92 adapted to engage the underside of the lever 68 and raise the latter against the pressure of the spring 74k. After the desired interval of directpattern control of the needles the lever 68 will be lowered by the pattern cylinder action, thus returning the suture needles to the control of the slide bar mechanism above described.

Operation of the needles by the foregoing mechanism to produce a sutured fabric, in this instance the knitting` ef tubular fabric having two sutures, such as the split sole of a stocking, will now be described, particular reference being had to Figs. 7 to 17 inclusive. In Fig. 7, the wales knit by the suture needles are identified by the refern ence numerals applied to said needles, namely, 53, 54, 56, and 57, respectively. In this articular case, the second yarn, shown Flack on Fig. 7 and introduced at 93, knits forwardly on the front bed starting with the second suture needle, that is, 54, and continues knitting` on the forward stroke en such number of needles as are advanced for knitting, this operation being shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10. On the back stroke the knitting is done on the rear bed and the second yarn knits back from C with the second suture needle 57 out of action and finishes on the first suture needle 56, as shown in Fig. 11. On the next forward stroke the second yarn knits forward on the rear bed starting with the second suture needle 57 and continuing to C, Fig. 12. On the return stroke the needles on the front bed from B to the suture are brought into action and the second yarn knits back with the second suture needle 54 out of action and finishes on the first suture needle 53, at which point 94 the second yarn is held out and a yarn change occurs bringing the first yarn into play, this return knitting stroke being shown in Fig. 13. At this point, it will be noted, the knitting has been on the needles at the B and C side of the suture needles of both beds, the needles in action, with the exception of the suture needles, being controlled by the main pattern cylinders and the switch mechanism on the cam slide bar (not shown in this case), the operation of which is well known in this art. After the operation shown in Fig. 13 the pattern cylinders throw out of action the needles at the B-C side and throw into action the needles at the A-D side of the suture needles. This rocking of the pattern cylinders does not, however, disturb the position of the pattern levers 88 since the pattern plates for these levers are shaped to allow the lever 68 to remain in the down position so long as the suture needles are to be controlled by the slide bar mechanism. It will be further noted regarding the time of actuating the suture needle jacks by means of the slide bar mechanism with relation to the knitting strokes, that the said suture needle jacks are shifted at the end of each stroke by reason of the iccation of the abutments 72 and 73. In other words, at the end of the back or rear stroke shown in Fig. 3, the lever 75 has actuated the jack for the suture needle 54 to put this needle in condition for action and the lever 76 has put the suture needle 53 out of action, so that upon the next succeeding forward stroke, as shown in Fig. 10, the suture needle 54; will be in action and advanced by the needle advancing cam while the suture needle 53 will remain inactive. The same applies to the succeeding operations described above and which follow with respect to knitting with the first yarn. On the next forward stroke the first yarn knits forward on the front bed from A (starting, as shown in Fig. 7, at 95) with the first suture needle 53 out of action and finishes on the second suture needle 54, as shown in Fig. 111. This yarn then knits back on the front bed starting with the first suture needle 53, Fig. 15, then forward on the rear bed (starting at 96, Fig. 7 with the first suture needle 56 out of action and finishes on the second suture needle 57, Fig. 16, and then back on the rear bed starting with the first suture needle 56, Fig. 17, and going out of play at 97, at which time a yarn change occurs bringing the second yarn into play. This yarn at 97, held out of play, is identical. with or joins the opposite end of the fabric at 97 when this yarn is next brought into play. The next operation starts at 9-1 with the second yarn, the knitting being in the same sequence as described above with reference to the yarn 93, it being noted that the knitting starts with the second suture needle 54 which knits the new loop onto a loop of the rst yarn. As the knitting continues, a suture is knit by the needles 53-54 and another by the needles 56-57. Each suture comprises, as shown in F ig. 7, two wales connecting the adjoining fabrics or webs and in each wale the first and second yarns alternate regularly. By reason of this alternate action of the suture needles, an exceptionally strong and durable suture is provided and, furthermore, the knitting is uniform and regular and devoid of openings for eyelets such as are found in certain prior sutures. The present suture is, therefore, better appearing and more artistic than the customary suture. Another advantage is that this method lends itself to easier knitting by reason of the fact that each. web at the end of any stroke ending with the suture is held down by the last suture needle, as shown in Figs. l1, 13, 14, and 16, and the knitting starts on the next succeeding stroke on the second suture needle in point of order, the first suture needle in such point of yorder being held down, thus holding the web down Vand preventing any tendency of the web from pulling up as might occur if this needle were advanced for taking a new loop. Thus the suture needles perform a web-holding function which is very desirable, since when starting to knit from the suture needle end the first suture needle in point of order prevents the web from pulling up by the advancing of the second suture needle in such point of order. The operations will be repeated, it being noted that the foregoing description of the several operations is not strictly correct in its reference to the paricular number of needles in action from the suture needles to each end of the bed, since reference is made, for eX- ample, to knitting on the front bed from the suture needles forward to B, whereas in actual practice all' of these needles might not be in action and the knitting would terminate at some point short of B, depending on the size of the stocking or the number of needles employed in knitting the tubular fabric.

It is believed that the foregoing conveys a clear understanding of the principles of my invention and while I have illustrated but a single Working embodiment in connection with the knitting of a particular suture, it should be understoodthat my invention is capable of more general application and of embodiment in ldifferent forms.

I claim:

l. In a straight knitting machine, in combination with pattern mechanism and means operated thereby for controlling the needles, of suture forming mechanism for putting suture needlesinto and out of action independently of the movements of the pattern mechanism and which permits the suture needles tofhave a neutral condition and to be operated by the pattern control mechanism when not knitting the suture.

2. In a straight knitting-machine, in combination with pattern mechanism and means operated thereby for controlling the needles, of suture forming mechanism for putting suture needles into and out of actionindependently of the movements of the pattern putting the suture needles into and out ofk action.

3. In a straightknitting machine, in com- 5. In a straight knitting machine, com-k prising a main pattern mechanism for normally determining the number of needles in action and controlling the same, and needle operating jacks normally operated thereby to active position, an auxiliary needle control means comprising a reciprocating needle-operating cam bar, certain of said jacks being arranged to be operatedby the cam bar for putting needles into and vout of action. f

6. Suture forming mechanism for a straight knitting machine acting independently of the pattern control means and permitting the suture needles to have a neutral condition in which they may v`be operated by said pattern control means when not knitting the suture.

7. In a straight knitting machine, needle control mechanism including a reciprocating bar reciprocated in timed relation with the needle operating cam bar, a pair of levers, cam elements in the reciprocating bar for actuating the levers simultaneously in opposite directions, rand means operated by said levers for controlling certain needles.

8. In a. straight knitting machine, needle control mechanism including-a reciprocating bar, a pair of levers coaXially mounted, means operative between each lever and a single needle for controlling the latter, and meansfor communicating pivotal movement to the levers simultaneously in opposite directions by reciprocation of the said bar to put said needles into and out of action.

v9. In a straight knitting machine, needle control mechanismA comprising, in combination With the cam slide bar, of a slide bar adapted to be reciprocated by the cam bar, means on said slide bar for controllingcertain needles, and means for causing the slide bar to be .reciprocated at predetermined intervals by the cam slide bar.

l0. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a cam slide bar, pattern control means, a slide bar having means -for controllingcertain needles, means for causing theslide bar to be reciprocated bythe cam slide bar, and means operated 'by the pattern mechanism for controlling the slide bar operating means.

11. Needle control mechanism for a straight knitting machine inclinling, in combination with a needle jack, a housing therefor, and apattern lever for shifting the position of the jack-housing, of a reciprocable slide bar, VYa lever adapted to be operated thereby, aV link connected to the pattern lever, and means whereby said link is adapted to be operated by said lever for controlling the pattern lever.

12. Needle controlmechanism of the character Vdescribed including, in combination with a pair of jacks, a slide bar, aepair of levers adapted to be moved in opposite directions by actuation from the slide bar, a connection betvveen each lever and one of the jacks whereby upon swinging the lever back andforth the jack will be moved into and out of action, abutments on each lever at opposite sidesV of its pivot, and cam elements on the slide bar adapted to actuate said abutmcnts forY controlling the action of thejacks.

13. Needle control mechanism as set forth in claim 12, including pattern levers adapted to be actuated by the levers onithe slide bar, and pattern mechanism for actuating the pattern levers.

14. Suture'forming mechanism comprising, inY combination with a'pair of sutureV needles and jacks therefor, of a slide bar adapted to be reciprocated, and means actuated by movement of said slide bar in one direction to operate the suture needle jacks for putting one suture needle into action and the other out of action and vice versa byY movement of the slide bar in the opposite direction. Y 1

15. Suture forming mechanism comprising', in combination with a pair of suture needles and jacks therefor, of a slide bar adapted to be reciprocated, means actuated by said slide bar for causing the suture needle jacks to be operated for putting the suture needles into and out of action in alternation for knitting a snture, and pattern mechanism controlling the period ofY operation of said suture knitting and for causing'said sature needles to be operated with other needles of the bed for knitting a single fabric.

16. In a straight knitting machine, in combination with the needle jacks and cam slide bar having cams for advancing and retracting the needle jacks when the latter arefin action, and means operated by the cam slide bar for raising and lowering needle jacks into and out of action for knitting a suture. Y

17'In a straight knitting machine, in combination with the needle jacks and cam slide bar having cams for advancing and retracting the needle jacks when the latter are in action, and means operated by the cam slide bar just prior to the end of its .Y

VYstroke in each direction for putting one needle jack into action and another needle jack out of action.

18.111 a straight knitting machine, in combination with the needle jacks and cam slide bar having cams for advancing and retracting the needle jacks when the latter are in action, and means operated by the cam slide bar just priorto the end of its stroke in each direction for putting one needle jack into action and another needle jack out of action, said means including a pair Vof levers each connected with a needle j ack and adapted to be actuated for moving its `iack into and out of action.

15). In a straight knitting machine, the combination with the needle jacks and a reciprocating part moving in timed relation with the knitting strokes, a pair of suture needles, and means operated by said. reciprocating part for causing said suture needles to be put into and out of action in alternation.

20. In a straight knitting machine, the combination witl the pattern mechanism and a reciprocatinfT part operating in timed relation with the knitting strokes, of suture needles, and means controlled by the pattern-meclnmism during one period and operated by said reciprocating part for putting the suture needles into and out of action for knitting a suture, saidY pattern mechanism serving to control the needles includ'- 1inI said sutureV needles for knittin T a single D t? D i fabric.

21. Needle control mechanism of the char acter described comprising, in combination with needle jacks, pattern levers, pattern mechanism for putting the needle jacks into and out of action, and a reciprocating part moving back and forth in timed relation with the knitting strokes, of a slideV bar adapted to be moved back and forth'by said reciprocating part, means controlled'by the pattern mechanism for causing the slide bar to be so moved Y to remain at rest, and means actuated hy back and forth mo\f*ement of said slide baiI for putting certain jacks into and out of action independently of said YpatternY mechanism.

22. The method of knitting a suture between two knit fabrics by back and forth knitting, consisting in employing two adjoining sutnre needles, and holding out of action the first suture needle in orderwhen knitting toward the suture and finishing on the second sutureneedle in such order, holding said second suture needle out of action andV starting the knittingwith said first suture needle when knitting back', and continuing the operation*alternately: with the yarns of both fabrics. Y

23. The method of knitting a suture by back and forth knitting employing two adjoining snture needles, wherein after every ioo knitting stroke toward the suture needles the suture needle neXt to the end of the web completed by such stroke is held out of action and the last suture needle knits and is held out of action on the succeeding stroke in the opposite direction for holding down the web, so that the knitting starts on said succeeding stroke with the first mentioned suture needle. n

24. The method of knitting two webs and joining them by a knit suture, each web heing of a different yarn and said suture being knit by a first and a second suture needle, consisting in knitting forward with one yarn starting with the second suture needle, knitting back with said yarn with the second suture needle out of action and finishing with the first suture needle, changing yarns, knitting forward with the other yarn with the first suture needle out of action and nishing with the second sut-ure needle, knitting back starting with the first suture needle, and repeating the operations. 25. The method of knitting on a straight parallel row machine a tubular sutured fabric, such as the split foot of a stocking, including the use of a first and a second suture needle located at an intermediate point on each bed, and a rst and a second yarn, one for each web of the fabric, consisting in knitting forward with the first yarn on the first bed with the first suture needle out of action and finishing on the second suture needle, knitting back on the first bed starting with thek first suture needle, knitting forward on the second bed with the first suture needle out of action. and finishing on the second knitting back on the second bed starting with the first suture needle, changing yarn to bring the second yarn into play, knitting forward with the second yarn on the first bed starting with the second suture needle, knitting back on the second hed with the second suture needle out of action and iinishing on the first suture needle, knitting forward on the second bed starting with the second suture needle, knitting back on the first bed with the second suture needle outy of acti n and nishing on the first suture needle, and repeating the operations.

26. The method of knitting two webs and joining them by a suture knit by two adjoining suture needles, such as 56 and 57, consisting in knitting forward with one y; n starting with the suture needle 54, then ba iwith the said needle 54e out of action and finishing with the needle 53, then forward with another yarn with the needle 53 ont of action and endingwith the needle 5a, and then back starting with the needle 53, and repeating the operations.

27. The method of knitting two webs on a single bed of needles and joining the webs' by suture knit by two adjoining suture suture needle, l

needles, such as 56 and 57, consisting in knitting with one yarn forward toward the suture needles, holding the needle 57 ont of action and finishing on needle 5G, holding needle 56 out of action, knitting back with said yarn starting with needle 57, knitting back with another yarn with the needle 5o out of action and finishing with the needle 57, holding the needle 57 out of action, and knitting forward with Vsaid other yarn starting with the needle 56 and repeating the operations.

28. The method of knitting a suture be tween two webs, consisting in employing two adjoining suture needles, knitting back and forth with separate yarns to knit said webs, and using only one of the suture needles at each forward or backward knitting operation, each knitting operation toward the suture having the first approached suture needle out of action and ending with knitting on the other suture needle, and each knitting operation awayY from the suture starting with the second suture needle in order while the first approached suture needle is held out of action.

- 29. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a bedof needles, jacks for operating the needles adapted to be moved to different positions for rendering the needles active and inactive, pat-tern mechanism adapted to control thek position of the jacks, certain of the needles being employed for knitting a suture and the jacks thereof being left in a neutral condition by the pattern mechanism during the suture forming period," and means put into and out of operation by the pattern mechanism but operating independently thereof to actuate the suture needle jacks for suture knitting.

30. In a straight knitting machine, in combination, a bed of needles, jacks lor operating the needles adapted to be moved to different positions for rendering the needles activeV and inactive, pattern mechanism adapted to act on said jacks for controllin the needles in action, suture forming mechanism adapted to act on certain jacks for controlling their needles, said suture mechanism including a reciprocating bar operated in conjunction with the needle-,operating cam bar, and means controlled by the pattern mechanism for causing said reciprocating bar to .operate at predetermined times.

3l. In,` a straight knitting machine, a bed of needles including at an intermediate p oint plural needles adapted to be used either for suture knitting or for knitting with other needles ofthe bed to produce a single fabric, pattern mechanism for causing the needles to be active or inactive when knitting either a single web or plural webs to be joined by a suture, and means controlled as to the period of 'operation by the pattern mechanism for controlling said suture needles when knitting a snt 32. In a straight knitting machine, the combination with a reciprocating needle operating cam bar, of suture forming mechanism comprising a reoiprocable slide arranged in the reciprocation thereof to put thc suture needles into and out of action, and means providing a lost motion operating connection between the cam bar and the slide whereby the latter is operated only during certain portions of the strokes of the cam bar.

33. The combination set forth in claim 32, wherein the last mentioned means comprises projections on the cam bar, and an offset part on the slide extending into the path of said projections, wherebyl to transmit movement from the cam bar to the slide when the projections come into engagement with and move the olfset part.

34.. The combination as set 'forth in claim 32, wherein the last mentioneir means comprises a plurality of projections on the cam bar, and av part pivotally mounted on the slide and normally arranged to be disposed in a position in the path of said projections, whereby to transmit movement from the cam bar to the slide when the projections come into engagement with and move said part, said part being arranged to be swung to an out-of-the-way position with reference to said projections.

35. The combination as set forth in claim 32, wherein the last mentioned means comprises a pair of projections on the cam bar spaced longitudinally with respect to said cam bar,"and a part carried by the slide and extending into the path of said projections, whereby to transmit movement from the cam bar to the slide, in one direction when the one projection engages the part and in the other direction when the other projection engages the part, the one projection being higher than the other, and said combination including means for raising said part to a position where it clears the lower projection but is still arranged to be engaged by the other projection, whereby to cause a movement of the slide to retracted position.

36. In a stra-ight knitting machine, the combination with a bed of needles, of a main pattern mechanism for normally determine ing the number of needles thrown into action and controlling the same, needle operating jacks normally operated thereby to active position, a reciprocable cam bar for operating the jacks in active position, and an auX- iliary needle control mechanism including a reciprocable element operable through a lost motion connection with the cam bar and arranged to cooperate with certain of said jacks for throwing needles into and out of action.

37. The combination set forth in claim 36,

including means for disconnecting the reciprocable element from the cam bar, whereby to leave the entire control of the needles to the main pattern mechanism.

3S. The method of knitting a tubular fabric composed of plural webs connected knit sutures, consisting in knitting each web by back and forth knitting and the sutures by alternate knitting of the yarns of the webs and forming each suture of plural wales, the needles of the first suture Wale being held out of action upon each knitting stroke toward each suture and the knitting of each such course terminating with the last suture needle thereof, the said last suture needle being held out of action upon the succeeding stroke in the opposite direction and the knitting starting with the first suture needle.

In witness of signature.

IVALTER F. ROLSTON.

l tno foregoing I affix my 

